Pusher for coke-ovens.



D. F. LEPLEY.

PUSHER FOB. COKE. OVENS.

APPLICATION FILED snr'ms, 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

3 SHEET $SHEET l.

Inventor Attorneys Witnesses 'HE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTOLITHOQ WASHING TON. D. C.

D. F. LEPLEY.

PUSHER FOR COKE OVENS.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT.1B,1914.

L129,$5% Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 24 Inventor v Attorneys "HE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO,, WASHINGTON. D. C.

D. F. LEPLEY. PUSHBR FOR COKE OVENS. APPLICATION FILED SBPT.'18, 1914.

L1Q9,35% Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 3.

Witnesses Inventor Q Attorns THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTC-LITHO WASYIINGION, CI.

DANIEL. 1E. LEPLEY, 0F CONNEILLSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PUSHER FOR COKE-OVENS.

niaaeta.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915..

Application filed September 18, 1914. Serial No. 862,391.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, DANIEL F. LEPLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Connellsville, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Pusher for Coke-Ovens, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pushers for coke ovens, one of its objects being to utilize a sectional ram so mounted as to occupy a comparatively small space outside of the oven, novel means being provided for holding the sections of the ram rigidly in alinement during the thrusting action of the pusher whereby buckling of the ram at the joint or joints in any direction is eliminated positively without the utilization of intricate mechanism such. as has heretofore been necessary under like conditions and which mechanism has often become disarranged or broken, thus interfering with the operation ofthe parts.

A further object is to provide a pusher of the character described and which utilizes what 1 term a floating guide capable of moving freely with the rear section of the ram and which constitutes means for holding said rear section in proper alinement with the front ram section as it is being projected. s

A further object is to provide means for limiting the movement of the floating guide in either direction.

With the foregoing and other OlOJGCtS 1n view which will appear as'the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the pre ferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings :F igure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus constituting the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the outer end of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through the floating guide and adjacent parts, said section being taken on the line AB Fig. 2, the drive mechanism being removed. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in section of the meeting end portions of the ram sections and showing the actuating gear in elevation. Fig. 6 is a section on line C 'D Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a section through a portion of the ram, said section being on the line E-F Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the floating guide or box.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the body of the apparatus, the same being supported by wheels 2 designed to travel along rails 3 so that the apparatus can thus be brought quickly to position in front of any one of a series of ovens. In order to prevent the apparatus from being pushed laterally off of'the track while the ram is in operation, thrust shoes 3 are connected to one side of the structure and are adapted to engage the outer side of the rail nearest the oven. Consequently while the pusher is in operation, these shoes 3 will tend to bear against the outer side of the rail nearest the oven and, as a result, the

danger of pushing the apparatus laterally off of the track is reduced to the minimum.

Erected on the body 1 are parallel girders a each of which is preferably made up of one or more heavy plates 5 extending between upper and lower angle strips 6, thus to form a large I-beam or girder. These beams or girders 4L extend beyond the sides of the body 1 and have upper and lower bearings .7 in which are journaled upper 'and lower shafts 8. 8 are upper guide rollers 9 and 10, while carried by the lower shafts 8, are lower guide rollers 11 and '12. Rollers 10 are located directly overthe rollers 12 while rollers 9 are located directly over the rollers 11. As shown in Fig. 4. these rollers are flanged and constitute supports and guides for a floating box or guide 18. This box or guide is preferably formed of corner angle strips 14 connected at the sides by side plates 15, there being a top plate 16 which connects the upper angle strips 14- and extends from that end of the box nearest the ovens to a point between the ends of the box. A bottom plate 17 connects the lower angle strips 14 and extends from a point between Carried by the upper shafts,

the ends of the box to that end of the box remote from the ovens. Thus it will be seen that thebox or guide 13 is open at the top for a portion of its length and is open at its bottom through another portion of its length.

Supporting flanges or rails, preferably in the form of angle strips 18, are secured along the inner sides of the box 13 and extend throughout the length of the box and parallel with the angle strips 14. Bearings 19 are secured to the sides of the box 13 adjacent that end thereof nearest the ovens, these hearings supporting shafts 20 carrying rollers 21. Two pairs of these rollers are preferably provided, one pair being arranged close to the inner side of each of the plates 15 and below one of the angle strips 18.

Extending longitudinally within the box 13 is a stationary guide 22 made up of opposed pairs of angle strips 23, the strips of each pair being connected by a plate 24 forming one side of the stationary guide. This guide is parallel with the box 13 for the greater portion of the length of the box and is then curved upwardly through the open top of the box, as shown at 25, the upwardly extending portion being reinforced by braces 26. These braces can diverge downwardly, as shown, so as to straddle the box 13, the lower ends of the braces being attached to the body 1 in any suitable manner.

A shaft 27 is carried by the guide 22 adjacent one end thereof and is engaged by rollers 28 which travel between the top 16 of the box 13 and the angle strips 18. Thus while the guide 22 and shaft 27 are held against movement relative to the body 1, the box 13 is free to travel longitudinally between the rollers 9 and 11 and upon the rollers 28.

The ram or pusher includes a head 29 which can be of the usual or any preferred construction, this head having a front ram section 30 fixedly connected thereto and mov ably mounted within the box 13. This section 30 is made up of an intermediate channel beam 31 the flanges of which are secured to side plates 32 and riveted or otherwise secured to the outer faces of the side plates 32 are upper and lower angle strips 33. These strips 33 and the plates 32 cooperate to form channels in the sides of the section30 and these channels receive the rollers 21 hereinbefore described. Thus the section 30 is held spaced from the bottom of the box 13.

Secured to the inner and outer sides of each plate 32 at that end thereof remote from the head 29 are plates 34 each of which has an eye 35, the two eyes contacting as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 7. A pin 36 extends through the eyes and mounted on the ends of this pin are rollers 37 designed to travel along the bottom of the box 13.

A pair of eyes 38 is mounted on the pin 36 between the eyes 35 and each of these eyes 38 has a plate 39 extending therefrom, the two plates 39 being secured to opposite sides of the web of an I-beam 40. Thus it will be seen that the Lbeam is capable of swinging relative to the ram section 30. This I-beam is adapted to work between the upwardly extending portion of the guide 22 and a bearing 41 is carried by the free end portion of the I-beam section 40, this bearing supporting a shaft 42 on which are mounted rollers 43 adapted to travel between the angle strips 23 of the upwardly extending portions 25 of the fixed guide 22. Rack teeth 44 are formed along the bottom of the section 30 of the pusher or ram and similar rack teeth 45 are formed along the bottom of the I-beam section 40. For the purpose of limiting the longitudinal movement of the box 13 relative to the body 1, stop members 46 are secured to the top and bottom of the box 13 and are adapted to come against the rollers 10 and 12.

Journaled in suitable bearings 47 under the beams or girders 4 is a transverse shaft 48 to which is secured a gear 49 extending up into the box 13 and adapted to engage the rack teeth 44 and 45. A gear 00 rotates with shaft 48 and receives motion, through gears 51 and 52, from a transverse shaft 53 j ournaled upon the side beams or girders 4. A large gear 54 is secured to shaft 53 and meshes with a small gear 55 secured to a transverse shaft 56 journaled on the beams 4. A large gear 57 is mounted on the shaft 56 and a smaller gear 58 is also mounted on said shaft 56, the large gear 57 meshing with a small gear 59 secured to a transverse shaft 60 while a larger gear 61 on shaft (30 meshes with the gear 58. Clutches, indicated generally at 62 and 63 are provided for the purpose of coupling the gears 57 and 58 respectively to the shaft 56. Shafts 56 and 60 are carried by a bearing 64 mounted on body 1 beyond one side of one of the beams 4 and a motor 65 is preferably lo cated adjacent the opposite side of the body 1, suitable gearing 66 being provided for transmitting motion from the motor to the shaft 60.

The gear 59 can be used for driving a gear 67 and this gear 67 can be coupled, by

means of a clutch 68, to a transverse shaft a parent that by means of the clutches 62 and 68, motion can be transmitted from shaft 60 through either gear 57 or gear 58 to the shaft 56. Consequently the gear 49 can be rotated at either of two speeds.

Assuming that the pusher is retracted to the position shown in Fig. 2 and with its section 40 elevated as shown, the head 29 can be projected into the oven by rotating gear 49. This gear, which normally engages the teeth 44 on the stem section 80,

will project said section forwardly into the oven and, as the rollers 37 cannot move upwardly but will travel under the angle strips 18, the section 40 will be caused to work between the sides of the upstanding portion 25 of guide 22. At the same time the rollers 43 will travel downwardly within the guide 22 until they are brought to position within the horizontal portion of the guide at which time, the section 40 will be brought into alinement with the section 30. As rollers 43 travel within the channels formed by angle strips 23 and as the rollers 87 travel below the angle strips 18, it will be seen that the sectional ram will be held positively against buckling in any direction at the joint between the parts. Furthermore during this movement of the ram the box 13 is free to travel therewith, or to remain stationary, accordingto the friction between the parts during the actuation thereof. In either event, the sections of the ram will be brought accurately into alinement and, after being brought to such position, will be held securely so that there is no danger of the ram buckling after the gear is brought into mesh with the teeth. 45. As shown in the drawings, the head of the pusher or ram canbe provided, at desired points, with rollers 77' whereby injury to the oven is prevented during the projection of the pusherinto the oven. The body 1 can be provided with a cab 7 8 of the usual or any preferred type for housing the operator.

lVhat is claimed is 1. An apparatus of the class described, a guide mounted for longitudinal movement, a head, a ram extending from the head and made up of pivotally connected sections movable relative to the guide, a fixed guide extending into said movable guide and upwardly therefrom, and cooperating means upon the ram sections and the fixed and movable guides for guiding the ram sections into alinement when thrust in one direction and for holding them in alinement during such movement.

2. The combination with a longitudinally movable guide, a head, a front ram section fixed to the head, and a rear ram section movable relative to the head, said sections being pivotally connected and slidable within the guide, of a fixed guide within and extending upwardly from the movable guide, cooperating means upon the front ram section and the movable guide for holding said section and. the guide parallel, and anti-friction means carried by themovable section and cooperating with the fixed guide for directing the movable section out of and into alinement with the front section and for holding'said sections against relative movement while in alinement.

3. The combination with a floating guide and a fixed guide extending into the floating guide, of a head, a sectional ram, means upon the respective sections for movably engaging the respective guides, an actuating element for successively engaging the sections of the ram to move the ram longitudinally of its guides, said guides cooperating to hold the ram sections against relative movement when in alinement.

'4. The combination with a floating horizontal guide and a fixed guide extending downwardly to and longitudinally within the floating guide, of a head, a sectional ram connected thereto, each section constituting a rack, means upon one of the ram sections and cooperating with the floating guide for holding said sections parallel with the guide, means upon the other section and cooperating with the fixed guide for supporting said section in upstanding position and for guiding it into alinement with the other section, said guides and the means engaging the same cooperating to hold the sections against relative movement while in alinement, and means for engaging the rack formed by the sections for shifting said sections longitudinally.

5. The combination with a floating guide, and anti-friction devices for supporting the guide for horizontal movement, of a fixed guide extending downwardly to and longitudinally within the floating guide, a head, a ram section extending therefrom and movable longitudinally within the floating guide, said section having rack teeth, a second section hingedly connected to the first named section, anti-friction means carried thereby and engaging the fixed guide, said means and fixed guide cooperating to hold the hing ed section in an upstanding position when the head is at one limit of its movement, said hinged section having rack teeth, a gear engaging the teeth on the first named section for shifting said section and the head in one direction relative to the floating guide, said fixed guide constituting means for directing the hinged section into alinement with the other section during such movement and with its rack teeth in posi-- tion for engagement by the gear, said fixed and floating guides cooperating to hold the hinged section against movement relative to the other section after being brought into alinement.

6. The combination with a fixed guide having an upwardly extended end portion, of a box-like floating guide extending around and movable relative to the fixed guide, a main supporting structure to which the fixed guide is connected, anti-friction devices carried by said structure and engaging the upper and lower portions of the floating guide, anti-friction devices carried by the fixed guide and within the floating guide, and flanges extending inwardly from the sides of the floating guide and under the anti-friction devices on the fixed guide, a head, and a sectional rain connected to the head, and means upon the respective sections of the ram for movably engaging the respective guides to direct the sections into alinement during the movement of the head in one direction and out of al-inement during the movement of the head in the opposite direction, and actuating means engaging the ram.

7. The combination with a head and a ram including a section fixed relative to the head and a hinged section, both of said sections having rack teeth, of a fixed guide I having an upwardly extending end portion normally movably engaged by the hinged section, a floating guide extending aroimd a portion of the fixed guide and constantly engaged by the other section of the ram, a gear engaging the rack teeth on the fixed ram section for shifting said section longitudina lly', said fixed guide operating to direct the hinged section into alinement with the fixed section during such movement, thereby tobring the rack teeth of the hinged section into position for engagement by the gear, said fixed and floating guides cooperating to hold the ram sections in alinement and against relative movement during the engagement of the hinged section by the gear.

8. The combination with a supporting structure and superposed anti-friction rollers carried thereby, of a box-like floating guide interposed between and movably mounted upon the rollers, a fixed guide having one end portion extending upwardly from the supporting structure and its remaining portion extended longitudinally within the floating guide, anti-friction rollers connected to that portion of the fixed guide within the floating guide, longitudinally extending inwardly directed flanges upon the floating guide and extending under and in engagement with the rollers on the fixed guide, rollers within and supported by the floating guide, a head, a ram section fixed relative thereto and having side channels for the reception of said rollers, a ram section hingedly connected to said fixed ram section, anti-friction devices carried thereby for engagement with the fixed guide, said fixed guide normally holding the hinged section in an upstanding position, means engaging the fixed section of the ram for forcing said ram longitudinally in one direction, said fixed guide and the parts engaging the same cooperating to direct the hinged ram section into alinement with the fixed ram section, during such movement in one direction, said fixed and floating guides cooperating to hold the two ram sections against relative movement while in alinement.

9. The combination with a head, of a rack fixedly connected thereto and forming a ram section, another rack hingedly connected to the fixed rack and forming a ram section, a fixed guide having an upstanding end portion for holding the hinged rack in an upstanding position when the head is at one limit of its movement, the remaining portion of the fixed guide extended horizontally, a box-like floating guide extending around and movable relative to the fixed guide and the fixed rack, anti-friction devices carried by the racks at their points of connection and adapted to travel within the floating guide and under the fixed guide, a gear engaging the fixed rack for moving the pusher head, said fixed guide and the rollers in the floating guide cooperating with the floating guide to direct the hinged rack downwardly into alinement with the fixed rack during such movement of the head and into engagement with the gear, said fixed and floating guides cofiperating to hold the hinged rack against movement relative to the fixed rack while in engaement with the gear.

10. The combination with a box-like floating guide and anti-friction devices for supporting and guiding the same, of a fixed guide having one end portion extending upwardly and its remaining portion within and extending longitudinally of the floating guide, means upon the floating guide and cooperating with the anti-friction devices for limiting the movement of the floating guide in one direction, a head, a ram section fixedly connected thereto and forming a rack, another ram section hingedly connected to the fixed section and forming a rack, anti-friction rollers carried by the sections at their points of connection and movable within the floating guide between the bottom of said guide and the bottom of the fixed guide, anti-friction devices supported within the floating guide and movably engaged by the fixed section, anti-friction devices supported by the fixed guide and movably engaging the floating guide, means upon the hinged section and movably engaging the fixed guide for directing said hinged section into alinement with the fixed section when the pusher head is moved in one direction, a gear engaging the fixed section to In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn, I have hereto afiiXed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

DANIEL F. LEPLEY.

shift said section and the pusher head to bring the hinged ram section into alinement With the fixed ram section, the fixed and movable guides cooperating to hold the hinged ram section against movement relative to the fixed ram section While said sections are in alinement.

Witnesses IVY E. SIMPSON, PI-IILOMENA A. RocKELLI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. G. 

